The Perfect Game Page #7

If he wins,

they'll make history.

You'll be guaranteed a trophy.

Angel is your best chance.

Yeah, well, we've been doing pretty

good on this rotation. Thanks.

Maybe we didn't make

ourselves clear.

We're not asking you.

I'm thinking

about starting Angel.

Why, Mr. Faz?

Well, no foreign team has

ever made it to the final,

so I just, uh,

want to give it our...

Best?

Look this is my team, and

you'll do what I tell you to do.

this is isn't

about feelings Enrique!

It's all

about feelings.

Don't tell me

you, too.

My

jock strap needs a washing.

It's not about feelings.

It's all about feelings.

Hey,

Chico, bring us some towels.

You don't

like picking up towels?

Maybe you'd be more comfortable

picking lettuce out of a field.

Welcome to Williamsport

and the home of Little

League baseball,

where the opening game

of the 1957 World Series

between Monterrey Industrials

and the Power House Sluggers

from Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Baltazar right

field. Pepe left field.

Mario second base.

Angel shortstop.

Enrique.

Well what are

you looking at?

Get out there

and start warming up.

Yes, Mr. Faz.

I'm pitching!

I'm pitching!

Cesar, I thought

we told you...

When I die and you're coach,

you get to make the line up.

You put in Angel

or we will...

You'll what? You'll

get me fired? Too late.

Or we will tell

them the truth.

Yeah, we know

about Saint Louis.

Cesar, think

of the children, huh?

I see.

So you better go tell the

umpire there's been a change.

Hey, ump.

What are those fans

doing on the field?

Hey, anybody not in

uniform clear the field immediately.

You don't understand, we are

with the Mexican delegation.

Well, I don't care

if you are with Elvis Presley.

Clear my field!

They're right, you know.

You should pitch Angel today.

You!

Always go

with your best.

What are you

doing here?

It's baseball.

It's a World Series,

only in America.

Well, I'd say it's good

to see you, but it isn't.

Oh, come on, Cesar, its

water under the bridge.

Some things never change.

You took everything

too personally,

pro baseball

is business.

Really? What business

got you here?

You.

No, I'm here

to scout you.

You're causing

quite a stir

and boys upstairs

figured anybody

could bring these kids this

far might deserve a second look.

And?

And we'll see if you

can win a big game.

Go get 'em, firecracker.

All right everybody,

inside the dug out.

Everybody, gather round.

I got a confession

I want to make you boys.

I n Saint Louis, I, uh,

in Saint Louis I, I wasn't

exactly, uh, a coach.

I uh,

wasn't even

an assistant coach.

I was, uh,

I was a towel boy.

We knew.

You knew?

Yeah.

Can we play

baseball now?

Yeah. Let's play some

baseball. Balt. Grab your bat!

Top of the sixth

and it's deadlocked 1 to 1.

Baltazar slaps one

into right.

Ruiz rounds second.

Coach Faz tries to hold him but

Ruiz takes off for the plate.

Safe!

Who told you to do that?

You did.

No, I didn't.

Yes, you did.

The unexpected play

at the unexpected time.

Monterrey, struggling to hold

on to a one run lead in the last inning.

With a runner in scoring position, a

hit here could win it for Bridgeport.

Enrique winds up,

and here's...

Why'd you turn off the radio?

We're working!

It's the World Series!

I n America!

My boy is pitching!

I don't care.

Get back to work.

Jimmy Carterola steps in with

two outs with runners on second and third.

He's two for two with a double and

a monster home run in the third.

Time!

Walk him?

Not a chance.

Did you see his

last two bats?

Yeah, I saw them,

and he can sure hit.

But he's thinking something

that everybody else is thinking,

the intentional walk.

Poor batter.

With first base open,

Cesar Faz will definitely

have Enrique walk Carterola.

He's not going to pitch

to him with an open base?

He's insane.

Enrique Suarez digs in.

A hit or an out will send one

of these teams to the finals.

Enrique, pauses on the mound.

He gets the sign

from Norberto.

Here's the wind up.

Strike one!

That's a bonehead

move right there.

It's as if Enrique is saying, if

you're going to beat me, beat my best pitch.

You know if I

was their coach,

I never would have

pitched Enrique today,

and I certainly would've

walked Bridgeport's biggest

slugger with an open base

that's textbook stuff.

Lucky for Monterrey, I

wasn't their coach. You were.

What are the odds of Carterola

lining one up the middle?

That decision took guts,

but hey, it paid off.

Yes, it did.

Yes, it did.

You really

impressed the brass.

Let's talk next week.

Who was that man?

He's with the

Saint Louis Cardinals

So you're

leaving us?

Of course not.

Not right now.

Why? After all

they've done to you?

It's what I've always wanted Angel.

A job?

No. Respect.

We gave you that before we were winning!

Let's go!

Whoa Whoa Whoa?

A telegram?

Amen.

I always been

meaning to ask,

why the 108th Psalm?

I think they

want a pre-game pep talk.

I...

Padre Esteban sent you boys a message

of encouragement. I got his words,

right here. He wrote this in Louisville

and asked me to read it to you

all if you reached the finals,

so, here it goes.

Father Esteban here boys,

when you take to the field

today, think of Juan Diego,

and remember after the

Bishop threatened him,

he ran away, lost his

woman, and hid in a bottle.

It was the bottom

of the ninth with two outs,

and even though Juan Diego

tried to blame the ump,

and stall the big game,

he crossed that hill,

and scored the winning

run. Became a hero.

And like him, if you

keep your faith in God,

He will help you show La Mesa

what you all are made of.

How did Father know we

were going to play La Mesa?

He's a man of God, stupid, he knows!

He's a man of God.

Alright! Let's go get them!

That Father of yours

sure has a way with words.

The team from

Monterrey, south of the border

is the youngest,

lightest, and smallest team

to ever play in the annual

Williamsport classic.

Like David and Goliath,

the two captains shake hands

at home plate as their teammates

take their final warm ups.

Papa. That's him,

that's Cesar Faz.

He looks so small. He

looked taller in church.

Everyone's at the field,

to hear the game,

please! One day!

You're this close to being

fired, now get back to work!

How you feeling?

I've never pitched in front

of so many people in my life.

What people? All I see is

you and me having a catch.

Get 'em.

Mr. Faz.

I just arrived from Mexico this morning,

I'm here to broadcast the game in

Spanish. I have something for you.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

That's from Father Esteban. By

the way, you're doing a great job.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

The umpire

signals for the last warm up pitch,

nearly 16, 000 fans

in attendance at Williamsport

for the World Series

between La Mesa California

and that surprising team

from Monterrey, Mexico.

La Mesa has

crushed every challenger in its path,

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